The Penmaker's Wife

This is about a woman who attempts to do everything for her son, whether that is faking her own death, selling her body or bumping off a few abusive men along the way.

However, I felt the character of Angelica was horrid. I feel as if a story when told from the point of view of the murderer it should be more nuanced and have more character development as the book progresses. I didn’t have any emotions towards her and that to me means an author has failed. I should have been either rooting for her or hating her. But by the end I was indifferent and quite happy that this book was at an end.

I read about a third of this book and gave up.
It wasn't to my taste.
I think the best way I can describe it is overly simplistic.
There were no details or depth to the book.
It was a series of fortunate or unfortunate events I felt.

Possibly if I'd carried on it would have picked up,but not all books suit all people and I happily moved on to something else.

What a wonderful story. It was so full of twists and turns it kept me reading late into the night. It is told in long flashbacks by o n e of the characters. This is definitely one of the most unique and best historical novels I have read in a long time. I recommend this book highly. Don't miss out on this one, you will definitely enjoy it.

The setting and description of the time was what I liked most about this story.Angelica went through a lot trying to protect her son William and it seemed like there was so much tragedy in this book.If you go into this book expecting misfortunes to befall our erstwhile heroine you will be okay.
It’s well written but I just couldn’t get past the constant pitfalls to Angelica leading a happy life.
Thankyou to Netgalley for this ARC

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
The premise of the book sounded good and I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I just couldn't like it.
Angelica Chastain and her son William are in Birmingham after having escaped from London in 1880. After an extremely difficult start, Angelica finds a job as a governess with a lovely family who has a son William forms a close relationship with. Wanting security and a good future for William is all Angelica ever wanted and she can finally relax into her new life. When tragedy strikes, her future changes again, eventually for the better. But when her past secrets come to haunt her, she has to take drastic action.
It's very hard to like Angelica, but that wouldn't have mattered had the story and writing been enjoyable to me. I found it flat, almost boring, but can't really explain why...

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

Birmingham, 1880. Angelica Chastain has fled from London with her young son, William. She promises him a better life, far away from the terrors they left behind.

Great story, well told. I love these femme fatale characters that are so very charming and so very devious. Good read! I look forward to reading more by this author.

4.25 stars

If you want to immerse yourself in late 19th century England, from the dirty streets of london to the jewel rich homes of Birmingham, then this book is good on settings. I don;t know Birmingham very well but this novel really does take you into the jewel quarter there and shows a sense of place and time that is very fascinating to experience.

The whole theme about the manufacture and importance of pens was interesting. Might not seem so at first sight, but It was intrigued to find out about how they were made, why they were important and why now there is a pen museum in the very quarter where the book is set. All fine details are woven into the plot and it's insightful to find yourself in this world.

The romance part of the novel wasn't its strong point for me and weakened the overall feel of a novel where the research enriched the setting. The characters and their reactions didn't equal the well developed settings for me and it was the jewel quarter and pen manufacturing which was the most interesting for me.

Effie and William were not people who I felt changed much over the course of the novel and this was disappointing as I wanted to find out about them and how they had grown.

As for Angelica - well she had to put up with a lot of problems and challenges!

The novel delves into a fascinating time period and setting which I wanted more of, but I enjoyed this one!

The Penmaker’s Wife by Steve Robinson is an historical novel about murder, obsession, manipulation and the lengths a mother will go to, to give her son the best in life.

I loved the historical details in the novel. I could clearly imagine life in late 19th century England, the contrast of the dirt-poor streets of London to the wealthy suburbs of Birmingham. The settings were beautifully created.

The character development was minimal. I felt the characters were the same at the beginning of the novel as at the end, except maybe for William. Perhaps this was intentional – it showed the inherent characteristics of Angelica, and that maybe due to ambition, these characteristics never change. But I would have liked to have seen more growth in Effie. She starts out flaky and naïve, and after almost 20 years is still the same woman.

I enjoyed the trials that Angelica faced – nothing came easy to her and the obstacles were many, making her that much more determined. But she is not a likeable woman in the least and I didn’t feel any attachment to her at all. The only emotion I felt was regarding her relationship with Effie. I do think William and Effie were the only two people she loved.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

#netgalley #thepenmakerswife #steverobinson #amazonpublishing

A hugely enjoyable tale of Angelica Chastain and her scheming life. The story begins in 1880 and sees Angelica and her son fleeing London to start a new life in Birmingham. Angelica is a quick-witted, determined and ruthless character. Lots of fun to read. A light, quick read with lots of twists and turns.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher Amazon Publishing UK for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Steve Robinson has done it again. He has written a compelling mystery with lots of twists and turns that grabs you at the beginning and holds your interest to the last word. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold and had no idea where it was going. It is told in the third party voice which just deepens the plot. The setting is Victorian England. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of pen production..
You will really enjoy this one.

I have to say I was a bit disappointed with this book. I assumed it was one of Steve's Jefferson Tayte books and kept waiting for it to switch to current day. It wasn't until I checked I found I was mistaken. It's quite a good story but it didn't really grip me like his other books do. There seemed to be too many coincidences for it to be believable. A shame because I love his other books.

Hugh fan of Steve Robinson's writing so was looking forward to reading this.
Was I disappointed NO
Was I gripped and drawn into the story YES
Did I foresee the ending NO

Completely absorbed from the beginning, thought it was well written
With twists and turns, and plenty of shocking ways the main character hoodwinked everyone for a better life.
A must read

Thank you netgalley, Steve Robinson and Amazon Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

I was immediately grabbed by the description of this book and had to delve straight in. I have read other books by the same author and have never been disappointed and this book is another brilliant title. The story starts in 1880's London where Angelica Chastain is trying to escape her past. She is determined to create a new and better life for her son William and will go to extraordinary lengths in order to achieve this aim. We follow Angelica as she thinks she has succeeded in securing a better life for herself and her son which for several years seems fine. However we should know that our past always catches up with us and as grieved individuals start to investigate Angelica's torrid past the net closes in and she has to become even more ruthless to keep the truth hidden. It is not until the end of the book that things become clear and we realise that not everything is as we are led to believe.

This is a brilliant book and I highly recommend this to those who enjoy getting totally engrossed in a tale of struggle and determination to escape their past and improve life for their children.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

After a traumatic opening and first meeting of Angelica Chastain and her young son William, the story jumps 16 years to 1896 in Birmingham and swearing of events that lead from 1880 to present-day. The beginning of this swearing is a statement of love for Angelica followed by what this person says Angelica confided in her and what she witnessed herself.
Beauty is definitely only skin deep where Angelica is concerned as men underestimate her and most women sense that there is something very off with her. Her goal in life is to lift her son out of poverty and into much wealthier circles so that he will never want for anything. The drawback of being so beautiful though is how memorable it makes her, making her an easy target for anyone wanting to make a quick few shillings or for pure self-gratification.
The author creates a vivid picture of the huge divide between the poor and upper classes of the Victorian era and the people who lived in each. The characters are very well developed in the story with some tender and light moments between friendships that develop making some of what happens, feel even more shocking. The end just knocked me sideways. Brilliant round up.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

I enjoyed this book and did find myself racing through it to see if Angelica’s past would come back to haunt her, but generally the book seemed rushed in some places and also a bit repetitive in parts. Angelica gets herself out of situations in what should be a serious way but seems so glib in the way the author describes it to us and Angelica then describes it to Effie.
Unlike some reviewers I predicted many parts of the plot very early on but the ending was a surprise that had me throwing my head back and laughing. It shouldn’t have, but my admiration for Angelica grew exponentially on the last page!! I’m not sure if the author wanted me to be shocked or disgusted or even frightened but for me it was definitely humorous.
I found myself fascinated by the descriptions of the fountain pen making and how they sought to solve the problems of leakage and I wished there was more historical detail like that. I think there was so much scope to expand the book in terms of historical context and fact and descriptions of every day life. The paragraphs that were included show that Mr Robinson knows how to to research and include fact amongst his fiction.
This book wasn’t a 5 star read for me but is definitely enough to make me want to read more by the author.

When I first read the synopsis for this book I was intrigued and thought the story arc could be really interesting. But as I started to read the book, I found that it didn't grab my attention as much as I thought it would. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, and found the main character Angelica unlikable. The second timeline that takes place about 20 years after the beginning I found to be confusing at first. I wish I had liked this book more, but I had a hard time finding its rhythm .

"In Victorian England, a mother is on the run from her past - and the truth about what she did.

Birmingham, 1880. Angelica Chastain has fled from London with her young son, William. She promises him a better life, far away from the terrors they left behind.

Securing a job as a governess, Angelica captures the attention of wealthy widower Stanley Hampton. Soon they marry and the successful future Angelica envisaged for William starts to fall into place.

But the past will not let Angelica go. As the people in her husband’s circle, once captivated by her charm, begin to question her motives, it becomes clear that forgetting where she came from - and who she ran from - is impossible.

When tragedy threatens to expose her and destroy everything she’s built for herself and William, how far will she go to keep her secrets safe? And when does the love for one’s child tip over into dangerous obsession?

Alias Grace meets Peaky Blinders in this tale of obsession, ambition and murder in Victorian England."

Was this description written just for me with the Alias Grace meets Peaky Blinders mashup?

Angelica will do anything to protect her son, William. All she wanted was the best for her son. But nothing was ever going to be easy. She manages to secure a job as a Governess. She eventually marries the wealthy penmaker and has a very close relationship with her new friend, Effie. But will Angelica escape her past?

The narr5is told from the third person. A helical is trying to make better lives for herself and her son but at the same time she also trying to avoid her past. The descriptions of the era make you glad you weren't around then. The history behind the pen making was interesting. I never saw the final twist coming. The book is well written and its plotline gripping. The characters were complex. I read this book in one sitting. My first read by the author ut I will be looking g out for him in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Steve Robinson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sorry this not my type of book. I requested this book based on the synopsis. I could not connect with any of the characters. I read and enjoy reading a lot of historical fiction and this book was one that I did not like or enjoy. Sorry.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I have read and enjoyed all the books in this author’s Jefferson Tayte genealogical mystery series, so was intrigued to see this stand-alone historical thriller, set in Victorian Birmingham, come up on NetGalley. The summary gives an idea of what it’s about but I think it’s better not to know too much about the plot going in, as the shocking truth of what has been going on is gradually revealed.

A beautiful young woman throws herself into the Thames, with her five year old son in her arms, in order to evade her dark past and begin again. Moving to the well-to-do suburb of Edgbaston, she befriends another young mother and manages to secure a position as a governess, but her relentless ambition for her son drives her every calculated move. When the past threatens her security, she will do whatever it takes to keep her secrets from emerging.

Told in both the third person past, and by an unknown first person narrator sixteen years later, this follows Angelica’s rise from desperate refugee to wife of a prosperous penmaker (this is not a spoiler - it’s the title!) using only her wits, charm and beauty, but not everyone is seduced and our sympathy for her soon wanes. How much you enjoy this will come down to whether you need to like your Main Character or not. Angelica is no Becky Sharp!

I liked the descriptions of late nineteenth century London and Birmingham, and learned a little about the penmaking industry, not something I’ve ever given much thought to. Most of the secondary characters are somewhat two-dimensional and parts of the plot difficult to believe. The romance is unexpected but not overdone, and I thought the ending was quite clever. 3.5 rounded up for good writing and the author coming up with something quite different, but I hope he returns to the lovable JT for his next book.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. The Penmaker’s Wife is published today.

This book is set in the time of Queen Victoria and starts with Angelica taking drastic measures, feigning the death of herself and her son, to escape her past life. But as the story develops it takes on the feeling of a slow developing train wreck that you can see unfurling.
I am a fan of this author and his Jefferson Tayte genealogical fiction series, but this book did not sit well with me. I am not sure if it is because the main character, Angelica, is so distasteful that it tainted the book, but it fell short of my expectations.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant story! I was instantly taken back to the 1880's with the story of Angelica and her son. With each page I was more and more intrigued by the story in which Angelica is trying her hardest to provide for her son while trying to avoid her past. The character development is fantastic and this is certainly one of those books that I just couldn't put down until it was over, and then I was left thinking about it. The story, the characters, what a mother would do for her child, it's all so relatable. Plus, A historical fiction allowed me to get a glimpse of a past life, one that could have happened to any one of us if we were born during that era! Captivating story and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of this genre.

Billed as Alias Grace meets Peaky Blinders, The Penmaker's Wife by Steve Robinson seemed like a book that would be right up my alley. The stylised cover was attractive, with its simple yet striking image of a fountain pen and a pool of blood, and the description of Angelica, a woman in Victorian England on the run from her past sounded intriguing but unfortunately the book failed to live up to my hopes. The plot is straightforward enough, a woman takes her son, fakes her death and runs away. She then creates another life for herself, first as Governess to a respectable family, and eventually as the second wife of the titular pen , maker, all with the intention of providing a better future for her son. Along the way she commits some terrible crimes, and when it seem like they are about to come back to haunt her, like a cornered wolf defending her cub, she proves that nothing and no one is more important in her eyes.
I struggled with the way this book was written, it seemed terribly flat and one tone, a bad thing happens to Angelica, she manipulates her way out of it. rinse and repeat in increasingly unlikely ways until the conclusion. I never felt any real connection to Angelica, and the character never seemed to grow in any way. There are two point of view characters, and both voices felt very similar, meaning that at times I had to go back to see which character was speaking. I was also disappointed by the lack of detail about the time and place the book was set in, it was minimal, and the fact that the character was married to a pen maker had no bearing on the story which seems a little strange. I also felt that the pacing was off, at times the narrative jumped from one event to another without any explanation, and while this may have been a deliberate tactic by the author to provide a shocking reveal at a later point, it really did not work in my opinion.
Overall the book left me feeling deflated and disappointed , it was not memorable.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book was received as an ARC from Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was like what if the Sound of Music was a murder mystery tale? Having that question in mind really made me enjoy this book even more. The history and the back story behind Angelica and the secrets of her husband was very interesting to read having her husband dead and fleeing with her son far away so they can have a better life for one another in an escape from her husbands death. She lands a job as a governess and begins to encounter with some people in her "husbands circle" and once admired is now questioned by her motives and having them see her as the sole killer of her husband. Tensions arise conflicts among us just invaded this Angelica's life and her world has turned upside down. I was thrilled with excitement while reading this book and was shocked all at the end almost at the point where I stopped breathing.

We will consider adding this title to our Mystery collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars!

I have not read a lot of historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. It is very well written and I enjoyed the characters.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A book of Victorian poverty, aspirations and devious methods. One woman's attempt to make a better life for her only son leads to unseen twists and turns in the plot. An excellent read from start to finish. With well developed characters it draws you in to the end.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Penmaker’s Wife by Steve Robinson is novel of historical fiction about a serial murderer set in Victorian England. Angelica Chastain believes her actions are just motherly love that she is doing her best to provide for her son all while the bodies pile up. This intriguing story is told from the point of view of one of Angela’s lovers and it’s twists and turns will keep you reading way past your bedtime.
Publishing Date December 1, 2019. #NetGalley #ThePenmakersWife #AmazonPublishingUK #MysteryandThriller #VictorianEngland #HistoricalFiction #SteveRobinson #bookstagram

Quick read, maybe a little simplistic writing style and not much depth to the characters, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy. This was a compelling book that grabbed my interest within the first 10 pages and left me wanting more when I finished the last word. I enjoyed reading the story unfold.

A quick, fast-paced, read. I would have liked to have gotten closer to the female characters Point of View. Would recommend to those that enjoy thrillers.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was a very strange book - the situations the main character Angelica finds herself in seemed to get solved incredibly quickly and conveniently which felt very forced to me.
However, the character herself was very interesting. She felt almost like a sociopath to me, not very empathetic or emotive at all. She seemed to just accept the bad things she had to do in order to get a better life for herself and her young son.

Although it was interesting, I did find my attention wandering at times which I think is probably because I didn’t find a connection with any of the characters.

There was some LGBTQ+ representation, though not very well defined for me.

Trigger warnings for rape, sexual slavery, attempted suicide, blood and gore.

I love period pieces. But the synopsis and the descriptions of the time period were the best parts of this book.
The "heroine" was manipulative and vapid and i couldn't root for her.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I probably would have found it easier to become invested in the story if I'd been able to understand the main character better. I didn't need to like her, but knowing more about her background, if she had always been that way, etc. might have helped.

The story moved along at a reasonable pace. I really only expected one type of behavior from the main character, so nothing she did was all that surprising. The settings were good, though there might have been a few too many historical details. They made it difficult to forget that I was reading historical fiction rather than a story that could have actually been written in the past. The ending made sense for the story.

An interesting historical Novel set in Victorian England. It captured my attention from the very beginning when Angelica jumps into the River Thames with her young son and flees to Birmingham, in search of a better and safer life for them both.. Angelica's dark side is slowly revealed as she makes her way out of the gutter into society with little to no regard for anyone other than her son. As the story progresses it becomes more difficult to put down.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early reader copy and to Steve Robinson for his great story telling.

Victorian England + Femme Fatale =success.

I can’t imagine this being for everyone but I enjoyed this fast paced story very much. I was hooked from the very first chapter and the author kept my interest until the very end.

I highly recommend to those who enjoy a murderous novel set in the late 1880s.

I received a free copy from the publisher for review but trust me when I tell you this is my honest opinion

This was an ok read, not great, but ok. The writing was good and it seemed historically accurate, but something felt like it was missing as I read.

The setting is Victorian England, 1880, and Angelica Chastain, and her young son William are running from what she describes as a miserable existence. She has no particular destination in mind, just to fulfill a promise she made to herself to give her son a better life, no matter the cost. As they jump into the Thames, she hopes that for all extent and purposes, the'd be considered good for dead, and thus they will be free to start a new life. Her new life takes her to Birmingham, where, in the park, William befriends Alexander, the only son of Georgina and Stanley Hampton. Georgina is immediately smitten by Alexander's friend, she offers to Angelica a job as governess to the boys, and invites them to live in her home, "Priory House". Stanley Hampton, is a partner in the pen manufacturing company, Hampton and Moore, a fairly successful venture. Angelica has an uncanny ability to charm most people, (especially Stanley), but not everyone, and some in the town gradually begin to question Angelica's backstory. As well, she did leave a trail behind her in London, that constantly gnaws at Angelica, such that she never quite feels secure in her new life, no matter what she does. To what extremes will Angelica go to to give her son the life she hoped to give him?

This is my first time reading a book by Steve Robinson, I'm glad I stumbled upon it browsing #netgalley. I was completely hooked right from the beginning, and this story becomes more and more "shocking" and surprising, , the deeper you get into it. Thank you #netgalley for the advanced readers copy in return for my honest review. 5 stars!

Interesting subject, insights into manufacture of fountain pens. Enjoyed the descriptions of Birmingham and its industrial past.
Angelica is a hard manipulating woman who cares only for the future of herself and her son, to better them socially and financially she takes great risks and sacrifices one person who truly loves her.
I found the characters interestingly but not always convincing. Story is written from different points of view.

Is it wrong to admit the blood tipped pen on the cover of Steve Robinson’s The Penmaker’s Wife prompted my reading the book? Does that make me an odd duck? Do I really care if it does?

Set in the late nineteenth century, The Penmaker’s Wife represents a much-needed respite from the glut of twentieth-century fiction currently dominating the market. I mean no offense to those writing or reading the latter, I love such stories, but I needed a change of pace and was happy to lose myself in the streets and shops of Birmingham circa 1880.

Robinson offers an edgy and intense intro, but the story settles into a slower pace as it progresses. The sedate nature of the narrative, however, should not be underestimated as the material grows steadily darker with each twist and turn. Robinson’s characters aren’t always likable, but they aren’t meant to be. This is story is one of desperate and ruthless ambition, of false impressions, falsehood, and cold-blooded murder.

Having said this, I admit I am hesitant to compare The Penmaker’s Wife to Alias Grace or Peaky Blinders. I understand the pitch, but I felt the story more in line with that of Martin Connolly’s Dark Angel or Peter Ackroyd’s The Limehouse Golem and would have no trouble recommending the novel to fans of dark mysteries.

This book was just ok. I had higher expectations for the book given I love period pieces. I guess it did not grab me as others have done, and, admittedly, my most favorite periods are eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, I am open to later periods if a good book. Good premise, though.

Let’s see what I can do in a 20 minutes’ slot. Can I finish a post? Probably not if I had a very fine analysis of a long book. But in this case, it won’t take so many words to tell you that this book didn’t work for me.

Victorian crime fiction? Sign me up. Also, I have nothing in principle against unlikeable or unreliable main characters, and I’m pretty okay with people doing evil things for good reasons (it happens so much in real life that books have to reflect that, right?).

So, on paper, I was probably going to enjoy the tale of Angelica Chastain, a young mother who successfully disappears together with her young son, to flee an abusive situation and the squalor of 1880 London poverty. She reinvents herself in Birmingham, tricks her way into a friendship with genteel women and secures this way first a job, then a marriage for herself and a wealthy future for her beloved son. On the way up the ladder, she doesn’t mind getting rid of problems… and of anyone who threaten to uncover her web of lies.

In retrospect I guess what sold me on this ARC was the Victorian stylish cover and the promise of a mix between Peaky Blinders and Alias Grace. I haven’t watched Peaky Blinders at all, although some of my younger colleagues gushed about it. I have very vague memories of Alias Grace, which I read decades ago on a Margaret Atwood spree after The Handmaid’s Tale. But this one doesn’t seem to compare. The characters feel rather one-dimensional, and the plot is full of happenstance situations (lucky ones for Angelica, and unlucky for people around her).

I don’t want to enter into the discussion about writers writing or not writing characters that are far from their own gender / racial / cultural experience, but this is one case where I feel that the male author didn’t particularly make his female main character believable. Adding a lesbian dimension to her character was really too much for my taste, not that I was disturbed by it, but it made me roll my eyes. Historical references seem rather dropped into the story and I was frustrated not to learn more about penmaking business since it was directly in the title of the book, and I’m a stationery addict after all!

That said, it made me curious to learn more about Birmingham and also about the penmaking manufacturing.

In 1880, young mother Angelica Chastain has fled her old life in London in the hope of starting again in Birmingham with her son, William. After successfully moving up the social ladder, she soon has the life she dreams of, and the hope of a comfortable future for her son. The past has a habit of catching up with you, however, and it is not long before faces she had hoped she had left behind resurface. When people close to her begin to question what her motives are, we begin to wonder just what Angelica will do to preserve the life she has become accustomed to.

Angelica was a very complex character. At the start of the book, when we read about why she is fleeing London, it is hard to have nothing but sympathy for her. Despite the peril of what she does, it is understandable that she is willing to do anything to save the life of her young son and I admired her for the risk she was prepared to take.

It was whilst on her journey to Birmingham that we first see a glimpse of the real woman behind the protective mother. Again, though, even though this is a shocking moment, I could see why she did what she did. Unfortunately for Angelica, she soon realises that there are far too many people who know about her past and that these unscrupulous characters are willing to exploit her in order to gain their silence. As the story progressed, I became more and more shocked by Angelica’s actions and began to fear for anyone she came into contact with!

There are several twists in the book as Angelica continues on her mission to give her, now grown up, son a good life. I did fear that one loose end would be left, but was pleased that the author had certainly not forgotten about it and that, despite what had happened, shocked that Angelica had not either!

I really enjoyed the late-Victorian setting and the contrast between the wealthy and the lower, criminal classes. Although Angelica wasn’t a nice character, she was certainly fascinating to read about!

All mothers have the "Momma Bear" attitude when it comes to their children, to protect at all costs, good or naught. Interesting read, many complex twists and turns, with taboo interactions of the time. What would a mother do to keep her only child safe and for that child to have a better life. Motherly love beats all, even blinded by that love, protection and basic common sense.

Still relatively new to historical fiction but I rather enjoyed the setting of this book. The horse drawn carriages, the foggy city, the pomp of upper class society vs the poverty and desolate living conditions of the lower class.

I was carried along the twists and turns in the story, gasped when horrible characters reappeared and thought hard about the lengths a mother will go to in order to provide a good life for their child. I wasn't expecting the extent of violence in the book but it did not detract from my enjoyment of it.

Thank you for allowing me to preview this title. I, unfortunately, could not finish the book. I just couldn't connect to the story and just did not like Angelica. When I get to 25% and just really don't care about the story or the characters there really is no point in going any further. Best wishes.

Synopsis:
In the London of 1880, twenty-two-year-old Angelica Chastain drags her five-year-old son - William - along with her. She's watching out for the man pursuing her as she makes her way towards the bridge so that she can jump into the Thames.

In Winson Green, Birmingham of 1896, the narrator is the one revealing the story about Angelica, about the relationship they share, and how all that she did was only for William.

Review:
Spanning some sixteen years, this is a twisted and cruel tale. This is the first book I'm reading by Steve Robinson. I wasn't aware that he is a London-based crime writer. Yep. I went in blind in this book, picked it based on the blurb only. And what a story it turned out to be!

It starts with a prologue in the London of 1880 while the story starts some sixteen years later in the first person, as narrated by the mysterious narrator. The narrator remains an unknown entity until about half the book, which adds to the mystery. And from there it proceeds in the third person as the narrator unveils the past.

"...sometimes one has to die to be born again..."

Angelica Wren neè Chastain, of French descent, is afraid of telling her son what happened that they had to run, wondering what he will think of her if she did. She just manages to tell him that his daddy's dead and that he need not be afraid any longer. But that man still finds her. He is a meanie, this Tom Blanchard. He knows what she did and blackmails her by pimping her out. He takes her money, rapes her, but Angelica finds a way out again, even though their first week in Birmingham is spent in squalor. They spent a few days on the streets before a certain Mr Featherstone took pity on them, brought them to the almshouses, and ensured they were provided for, along with some money. It was good to know about the philanthropy though because Dickens indicts? in Bleak House the Victorian society of the 1830s in the adjoining counties of London 'for its irresponsibility towards the less fortunate'. Though it's something when I say that in certain instances Victorian England's filthiness shines in all its glory.

Some of the chapters start with the narrator relaying events fromt the past, followed by the actual happenings in the past. From when the narrator met Angelica for the first time, how they came to be acquainted.

"What good was making the acquaintance of a mistress’s nanny when it was the mistress herself that Angelica aspired to be?"

Angelica appears to be devious, but I won't fault her after the kind of life she has run from. But her true nature, whether good or bad is for you to find out, is left a mystery till the very end. There are indications though, throughout the text, which I must admit I didn't want to believe. How she makes, the way she makes, life for herself and her son William with Stanley Hampton is a mind-blowing concept that the author came up with. And that too way back in the 1800s. Maybe that is how crime fiction works but it still awed me. Stanley is the co-owner of Hampton and Moore, along with Alfred Moore. They're penmakers and the latter has only a daughter, Louisa.

While Georgina Hampton's (Stanley's wife) friends gradually become Angelica's too, Effie and Violet, there's always pleasantness which as a reader doesn't make you aware of what is to come next. It is a sense of security before the author throws you into the deep end, and that is what had me so damn impressed!

"It seemed that her past was not yet ready to let her go on with the happy life she was building for herself and William, and something had to be done about that."

The story engaged me like nothing else. Everything is gradually revealed and it kept me hooked, wanting to know why everything that happened, happened. Wanting to understand the motivation behind it. Who's the actual protagonist? Is the story about the protagonist or is it about an antagonist? There are twists and turns till the very end which will keep you guessing.

If you love crime fiction in the domestic sphere in a historical setup, you will love reading this one.

P.S. I read somewhere that "a dramatized first-person narration is an established tradition in the European novel" and this book proves it.

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer (an imprint of Amazon Publishing), and NetGalley for an e-ARC of the book.

I will soon post this review on my blog, Amazon and Goodreads and share it on other social media platforms too.

Sorry it as taken me a while to finish this book, but i did read it all in the end. The Penmaker's wife is a very evil woman, twisted and obviously mental disturbed, which comes across very well in the story. However, i kept waiting for something to happen, something or someone to jump out of the cupboard type of effect, which didn't come. A story that began reasonably well, fizzled out before the end - maybe there will be a second book to finish it off?
After picking on reviews about other books by the same author, which came across as 'good' or 'very good' all i can say is that i picked the wrong book to read first.

An interesting read that keeps you engrossed from the beginning to the end. I'm not usually find of books set in Victorian England but enjoyed this book.

Despite reading the premise for this book, I went in completely oblivious to the tale that lay ahead. I must have skimmed the description, took it as historical fiction and added it to my TBR list. Never in a million years did I foresee what was to come.

I have not come across Steve Robinson before but this, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE, is a standalone tale of a different kind. How far would a mother go to give her child the best possible life?

Set in the Victorian era of the late 19th century, the story begins in 1880 with beautiful young mother Angelica throwing herself into the Thames with her 5 year old son William in her arms in order to escape her past and thus begin a new life. A rail journey booked for Birmingham will see them on their way, but not before a face from the past she is fleeing from catches up with her and blackmails her into submission. Seeing no other way out, Angelica acquiesces...and then there were three.

Tom Blanchard was not someone to be messed with. He was a low life degenerate making his living off the immoral earnings of women, and children, which is exactly what he had in mind for Angelica...and William, when he was old enough. Worse still, Blanchard knew just what she was running from so from him there was no escape...yet. But Angelica endeavoured to find a way, before he put her to work to earn his keep, and until then she would bide her time. When it came, it was not a minute too soon...fleeing to the streets that felt far safer than in Blanchard's care.

A chance meeting whilst walking in the park one day sees opportunity knock when William began playing with another young lad his age whilst Angelica befriended his young mother, Georgina Hampton. After an invitation to tea the following day, Angelica manages to secure herself a position as governess to Georgina's son Alexander...as well as the expected arrival of another in a few short months.

As soon as Angelica set eyes on Priory House, she knew that's what she wanted for herself and William. But as governess that freedom was not hers to claim although, upon moving in, it had become their home too...still Angelica wanted more. But to what length?

The Hamptons are clearly fond of William and the boys became inseparable, so it isn't long before Georgina informed Angelica that the same privileges that afforded Alexander would be William's also. She would tutor them both until they were old enough to be sent away to school, afterwhich Angelica would have a new charge in light of Georgina's pregnancy.

Despite being a governess, Angelica and Georgina became good friends which also extends to her small circle of close companions, Effie and Violet. So when tragedy strikes one afternoon while the two women are out walking with their boys, the path of Angelica's life changed irrevocably.

Devastated at the loss of her close friend and companion, Angelica, fearing her dismissal, once again saw an opportunity. The boys were now away at school, there would no longer be a child so her services were no longer required. Using her charm, beauty and wit she catches the eye of her friend's widower Stanley, fresh from his grief, and head over heels in love with her. Three years after Georgina's tragic demise, Stanley and Angelica marry...and she becomes the penmaker's wife.

But not everyone is please with the union. Violet, the former Mrs Hampton's closest friend, doesn't like Angelica and suspects she is up to something nefarious. Whilst Effie, a young woman two years her junior, is in love with Angelica. And so begins the secret relationship between the two women with stolen moments and discreet afternoons. But is the feeling mutual or just another opportunity to exploit and manipulate?

However when her past comes knocking and threatens all that Angelica has built up, she will do whatever it takes and stop at nothing to keep her secrets from being exposed.

Told in a progressive timeline from 1880 to 1896, in retrospect and in the present, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE is the story of Angelica Chastain, a woman with whom we sympathise and even admire as she rises from the gutter to become a woman of substance. But that sympathy soon wanes as her ulterior motives become obvious and we realise that she is nothing more than a manipulative conniving opportunist who will allow nothing and nobody to get in the way of her ambitions for her son. And as the story progresses, it soon becomes clear that Angelica is even more devious and wicked than she at first appeared.

With a remarkably high body count, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE combines historical fiction with dark thriller noir in the Victorian era that does not fail to keep the reader engaged. There is just enough information about penmaking to keep it plausible without getting too much into intricacies as well as the lesbian affair between Angelica and Effie which is more of a subplot that does not detract from the main story.

Compelling and effective in setting and atmosphere, it is easy to lose yourself to the life and times of the characters. Each setting was described so well that I felt I was there watching Angelica stealthily move by gaslight along the dirty streets to the exquisite rooms and halls of Priory House. The strength in each character is also well developed that you either want to love them or loathe them and added to the dark atmosphere of the Victorian era where I half expected to see Jack the Ripper in the shadows makes THE PENMAKER'S WIFE a hugely enjoyable tale that is unputdownable from start to finish.

I'm so glad I came across THE PENMAKER'S WIFE because it most certainly did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold with no idea where it was going in this deliciously dark historical thriller filled with deceit, manipulation, secrets and murder.

Tense, intriguing and very atmospheric, THE PENMAKER'S WIFE is a brilliant and well told tale that is completely unique in concept with an ending that is quite delicious. When I opened this book, I had no idea where the journey would take me but I enjoyed every minute of it!

If you love historical mysteries, particularly those of a different kind, then don't go past THE PENMAKER'S WIFE. Trust me, you will NOT be disappointed.

I would like to thank #SteveRobinson, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #ThePenmakersWife in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful young woman throws herself into the Thames, with her five year old son in her arms, in order to evade her dark past and begin again. Moving to the well-to-do suburb of Edgbaston, she befriends another young mother and manages to secure a position as a governess, but her relentless ambition for her son drives her every calculated move. When the past threatens her security, she will do whatever it takes to keep her secrets from emerging.

Told in both the third person past, and by an unknown first person narrator sixteen years later, this follows Angelica’s rise from desperate refugee to wife of a prosperous penmaker (this is not a spoiler - it’s the title!) using only her wits, charm and beauty, but not everyone is seduced and our sympathy for her soon wanes. How much you enjoy this will come down to whether you need to like your Main Character or not. Angelica is no Becky Sharp!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author, Steve Robinson, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Penmaker's Wife in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought the book was well written. The scenery was highly descriptive and the characters compelling.
Very entertaining. I enjoyed it.

This book was okay. I liked the historical contect. I wasn't a big fan of the main character but she was okay. I thought it could have been written better but it was okay.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

This is one of those books that I have drawn far different expectations than what the book intended. I expected mystery and intrigue but all the book could offer me with straightforwardness. It was a very tenuous plot, oversimplified: One murder too many, one explanation too many, a few coincidences too many.

I am also tired of titles like The XX's Wife and the XX's Daughter and the XX's Sister. Not to mention that it was misleading as the protagonist, Angelica Chastain, has far less to do about being the wife of a penmaker and far more to do about her own life outside that marriage. It did not define her in any way.

The Penmaker’s Wife

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Penmaker’s Wife by Steve Robinson is a historical novel and a thrilling gothic noir, about murder, obsession, manipulation, that will keep you up long past your bedtime.
A captivating progressive timeline from 1880 to 1896, Angelica Chastain has fled from London with her young son, leaving the vile past behind. Angelica, comes from a background that has definitely shaped her outlook on life. Mentally unstable she feels no empathy for her actions, as takes whatever means necessary to rise her status and that of her son. She is ultimately an ambitious, scheming, serial killer, as the body count rise, and her past comes bearing down her.
Sinister, emotional, complex, riveting, fast-paced, dark, thrilling, captivating, taut, twisty, and entertaining
The authors ability to create a stunning storyline with a wickedly manipulated leading lady.. This historical dark thriller does not contain a lead protagonist that you will emotionally connected to....Or maybe you might!


#thepenmakerswife #steverobinson #amazonpublishing

In 1880 London, Angelica, an attractive Frenchwoman, is unhappy in her marriage to an Englishman. Wishing for a better life for her and her young son, William, Angelica fakes their drowning, and they flee for Birmingham. There, following several unpleasant incidents, she manages to pose as a respectable London widow. In a park, while William plays with another lad, Alexander, Angelica encounters Alexander’s mother, a rich penmaker’s wife, Georgina Hampton, who invites them to her mansion for tea. There, Angelica meets Effie, a pretty young woman, and Georgina’s husband, Stanley, who is taken aback by Angelica’s slight French accent.

Georgina hires Angelica as a governess. Unfortunately, Georgina dies in an accident, and Stanley marries Angelica. Angelica takes measures to ensure that William, not Alexander, will inherit the pen-making fortune. It would seem Angelica has finally achieved her heart’s desires. However, demons from Angelica’s past catch up to her; she confronts them boldly.

Although this historical novel is a departure for Steve Robinson from his well-known Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mysteries, the fast-paced action scenes and an absorbing plot make it gripping. The artful device of using a narrator telling part of the story, while imprisoned, adds to the intrigue. The details of fountain pen-making are an interesting aside, cleverly woven into the story. Life in both the Victorian era lower and upper classes, and the chasm between them, is shown adequately, transporting readers to those times. Class and gender issues, as well as prostitution and lesbianism, are meshed into the storyline. However, the numerous coincidences, the actions of various characters, and the occurrence of some events require suspension of disbelief. Angelica is a woman well ahead of her time and makes us wonder how far a mother would go to secure her child’s future.

Review appeared in the HNR Magazine Issue 91 (Feburuary 2020)

Well written and interesting plot line. Some subject were against my believes and that made it tougher to get through. Not my favorite type of book but glad I finished it. While it isn’t going to appeal to all, it will be loved by many. I will look for other books by this author.

It's really hard to love the heroine of this novel. She is beautiful, but also dark and selfish. Still, the story is mesmerizing and I couldn't help myself but to read it in no time, just to find out what is she up to. In the end, I liked the action, even the way the author imagined the characters, but I think there is so much more space to do a deeper, better characterization of protagonists. There is some space for progress, but for me, this is still a book worth of reading.

Angelica Chastain & her son William leave London in a hurry when, holding hands tightly, both jump into the Thames & fake suicide. It seems that her husband wasn't earning enough to be able to provide William with the future which Angelica felt he was wholly entitled to. Her part time work as a prostitute didn't make enough of a difference, so off to greener pastures. Some dangerous characters make life a bit difficult for Angelica & William, but she takes care of them with ease. Angelica ultimately marries the widower of a woman who took her & William into her home when they were living on the street. The marriage is a good move for Angelica, as her new husband is quite wealthy & very fond of William. Without giving away any important points of the story, let us say that Angelica is not a woman to cross. That said, I enjoyed this book. It was obvious early in the story what Angelica's game was, but it was well written & entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Steve Robinson, and the publisher Amazon Publishing UK, for the free ARC in return for my honest opinion.

WOW. I am stunned. So many times my mouth was dropped to my chest! The callousness was shocking. A really good book, well written! I will be looking for other books by this author.

Birmingham, 1880. Angelica Chastain has fled from London with her young son, William. She promises him a better life, far away from the terrors they left behind.
Securing a job as a governess, Angelica captures the attention of wealthy widower Stanley Hampton. Soon they marry and the successful future Angelica envisaged for William starts to fall into place.
But the past will not let Angelica go. As the people in her husband’s circle, once captivated by her charm, begin to question her motives, it becomes clear that forgetting where she came from—and who she ran from—is impossible. #ThePenmakersWife #NetGalley

This was a surprising little story. I thought it was going to be a historical story, about a woman fighting the world and trying to make her way for her and her son. This is a surprising story about murder and the love of a mother to son. But it's told pretty high level, with a little character development but not much. It's told from two POV - a narrator telling the story and the MC, the mother. There's also a slight love story but, again, told pretty high level and with huge chunks of time passing with little narration. I usually like books where I get to know characters very well, so while I enjoyed this one, I didn't love it. Really I was surprised by how bloody it was!

The book is set in the time of Queen Victoria
This book is well written and the plot is so addictive and compelling.
The characters were complex.
A great read

Angelica Chastain, fled London with her son William and she wants a better life for the five year old. She faked their deaths, to escape her husband and moves to Birmingham. After sleeping rough for a few nights, she meets a kind lady in the park, her name’s Georgina Hampton and her son Alexander and William become friends. Georgina’s married to Stanley, he owns a business called Hampton and Moore and they make a variety of fountain pens.

Georgina, Stanley and their friend Effie don’t understand how cunning, manipulative and sinister Angelica can be. What Angelica will do, to achieve a better life for herself and her precious William. When Georgina tragically passes away, Angelica goes from being the governess, to being the new Mrs. Stanley Hampton and Alexander’s loving stepmother.

When people in her husband’s circle start to question his decisions, and hasty marriage to Angelica. She continues to secretly plot to get rid of anyone standing in her way, her love for her son is a dangerous obsession and she want's him to own Hampton and Moore. Set in Victorian England, The Penmaker's Wife is a rather dark and far fetched story about a mother who's a compulsive liar, serial killer, and two stars from me.

A female serial killer in Victorian England... I was so in when I requested this one from Netgalley... but then shiny things distracted me. Angelica is a woman who is plagued by horrible circumstances, as a woman with no wealth and a dead husband, she and her son are at the whim of any man who wants to take advantage of her. In a desperate bid to flee a forced life of prostitution she fakes her death (not a spoiler, this happens page 1) and finds a new place for her and William to restart.

Time after time she is faced with the atrocities of a woman unguarded by a man. But then, she comes across a kind woman who offers her a home and a job as a governess. Within no time she is enmeshed with the family and her and William's futures look brighter. She takes every opportunity that is afforded her and then begins making opportunities of her own... ones that seem to leave unusual deaths in her wake. Can she end up with the perfect life, carved of her own wishes or will the law catch up with her?

I completely agree with the comparisons to Alias Grace for this one. Angelica is a pretty unlikable character but it's hard to look away as you realize just how diabolical she is. She will stop at nothing and while she is not your average serial killer with a signature killing, that is what keeps her out of the spotlight. This one is a fun historical novel with a little bit of gore and horror to keep your heart pumping as you read.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this novel and apologies it took me so long to get to it! All opinions above are my own.